Running 3 miles One step after another, I DID IT!!! And before you know it you have completed your very first Tri!!! All the people that helped and participated were absolutely amazing!! Shout Out to all those who were able to be there and support and to those who helped encourage me in my training along the way. I couldn't have accomplished it without your help in motivating me!
For the past month and a half, I have begun a strict triathlon training program. Why?
1.) I wanted to have a goal to work towards for my fitness. Something that would actually get me to the gym, instead of just the thought that I should really exercise. I am a huge goal maker and accomplisher.
1a.) This goal has led to other smaller goals such as working on my 6 pack, getting rid of the rest of the belly fat. Oh yeah. :) Saying no to the sugary and salty substances more often than I say yes. Going to the gym that I am paying money at, for membership, even if it is 9:00 at night when I finally have time to go, and I have to be at work the next morning at 6:30am.
2.) A Triathlon is something I really want to compete in. Take a marathon, never want to do it as long as I live. Running for 26 miles... why??? I have plenty of friends who have participated in marathons, even multiple times. They are amazing to me. But honestly I just don't want that kind of awesomeness in my life. :) Again with the running 26 miles...why??? But break up that workout through several different cardio activities, that is what I am talking about.
The distance I want to compete in is a Sprint. I am a beginner, not ready to kill myself trying to begin an Olympic distance. A Sprint normally is a 700m (~.43 mile) swim, 20k (~12.4 miles) bike ride, and 5k (~3.2 miles) run.
The training I am following is specifically for beginners who may not have spent much time doing any running, swimming, or biking previously. It helps to build up your cardio capacity in an 11 week time frame. I think it is amazing how quickly your body can adjust and be able to handle working harder. Your heart is AMAZING!!
#1 Dilemma I have come across is actually finding a Triathlon to compete in. Here in Austin the Triathlon's I have found to compete in are on Sundays other than on Labor day and Memorial day. I had barely done a week of training by Labor day this year, so I was not ready by any means for that. Some people could pull that off. Let me remind you that I am a beginner. Memorial Day is just so far away, and I wanted a closer date. Sundays I do not want to compete on for personal reasons. For me that is part of the way I keep the Sabbath Day holy.
So how do I get around this dilemma. I create my own event and invite my friends to come cheer and or participate however they would like. Perfect solution. It can be on the day I want it to be, and I get to do it with people I like. As opposed to those that I do not like. :P
I have been thinking a lot about service recently. Mostly in serving God, thinking of the scripture in Mosiah 2:17 from the Book of Mormon which states, "And behold I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
Most recently I became sick and began to receive much service which I have been so grateful for. As I was thinking of the many ways I was served I also realized that because of this service it gave me a greater love for all of these people and I in turn wanted to open my eyes a little more and find ways that I might be able to bless their lives as they had blessed mine. I am still working on that part, but there have been so many that I want to say thank you to. In no particular order because each did what they could to bless my life, and each thought meant so much to me.
My dad for allowing others to serve me, and for serving my brothers. My mom for calling me and checking in on me. My brother Nathan for giving me his suit jacket when I was shivering cold, and for driving us home from Dallas and enduring it so well despite his own sickness. My brother Seth for inspiring me to ask for a Priesthood blessing My brother Willie for visiting me in between his classes, despite my eyes having trouble staying open. :) My sister-in-law Kami for checking on me, and calling me. Desiree Heidi for taking me to the ER and sitting with me as I shivered in the cold Lobby, and re-explaining everything the doctor told me, and figuring out my pills till after 3 in the morning... Christa Haring for breakfast, dinner, and being sick with me. ;) Ali Hancock for the text message Phillip Payne for the phone call Arturo Vega for the blessing and follow-up Vince Methot for the blessing Flor Porras for dropping off food Tamara Kelm for her prayers, thoughts, and chats Elizabeth Jeffery for listening Austin Swafford for making me laugh Taryn Eastwood for facebook comments Nathan Brown for well wishes Hubert Laury for phone calls from work to check on me & making me laugh Sid Hernandez for phone call from work and laughter Jeddy Stailey for helping take care of my room mate and being willing to serve David Pruitt for helping take care of my room mate and being willing to serve Larissa Stalinsky for checking in on me
And to the many others who have had me in their prayers and thoughts. For those simple things that went unnoticed by me. Thank You!!
Mother Teresa said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love."
Thank you for all of your great love!
Michelle
*Cheesy title, maybe, but from the heart yes. **Picture depicts: The Martin Handcart Company heading west in 1856 was caught in Wyoming by the early arrival of winter weather. Many would die before they reached the Salt Lake Valley. A rescue party sent by Brigham Young met the company and helped get them through. One especially difficult part of the journey was the crossing of the Sweetwater River. Cold and hunger had left the pioneers weak, and the crossing seemed impossible. However, men from the rescue party, some only teenagers, bravely stepped forward and carried many members of the company across the icy water. This heroic act was an inspiring moment amid the tragic experiences of the Martin Handcart Company. - Clicking on the picture will take you to the website with more of the story.
"The strange looking bar in the baggie is a snickers bar with the chocolate cut off, because I really like snickers, but have a hard time with the chocolate because it makes it sooo sweet and it is often more than my body wants."
I have been thinking a lot about the little train that could and I have really began to wonder if he is misquoted. Everyone says that he said, "I think I can, I think I can!" I seriously think he was actually saying, "This too shall pass, This too shall pass!" That has become my motto this summer!
Anatomy and physiology 11 week class, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-9:50! nough said!! On the day of my final exams (I had one class yet I had 3 tests to take. A 3rd exam, final exam and the lab exam on the same day) Desiree made me this awesome shirt! Including the train patch :) It was so awesome and for the first time I went to take a test and did not have anxiety about it. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Desiree. Honestly boys she is a catch!!! ;) The picture at the top is what I walked into my room to find when I was going to bed late one night from studying. The funny thing is that I was around when she was pulling all of this off, but apparently so involved in studying that I had no idea.
Aside from all the study time that I have had to put into this class, I have found it amazing the way the body works, and it definitely bears testimony to me that there is a Divine creator!
Dissecting a cat was also cool, though why I have to know their muscles in addition to mine is beyond me, it is human anatomy after all.
40-50+ hours of work a week has also been an adventure!
And last but not least moving in the middle of it all! Oh the adventure my new room mate (Desiree) and I have had in moving together.
It all started when we moved in at 12am, and yes I literally meant 12am! :) It started off our room mate bonding moments just right, but wait there's more.
Action: Desiree walks in front door, Michelle is sitting on couch studying.
Michelle: Desiree, I think our apartment may have flees???
Desiree runs over to couch and kneels on floor: What??? I have never seen a flee!!
Michelle: They are small and black and they bite!!!!
Desiree (two hours later): yeah we have flees 2 of them just jumped on me.
(Next day) Setting: Apartment office Desiree: Our Apartment has flees
Manager calls 15 minutes later: We will get it taken care of immediately.
Desiree calls Michelle at work
Desiree: Our apartment is being fumigated TODAY!!!!
Later that night: Setting: Michelle walks in apartment door!
Yay no more flees, we need to vacuum every day, only problem is our neighbors hate* us because the only time we ever have time to vacuum is about 11-12 at night. :) Major props for the Renaissance apartment who are amazing at taking care of their residents!!!
Oh yeah and there was also the water incident, this actually has video to document :)
Sorry about the sideways issue?? I will learn to do it correctly. :)
All in all I think things in my new apartment have gotten off to a great start!!! Funny stories to share the next time I am asked to do a youth fireside about moving out of the house and away from the parents. Too bad, I didn't have all of these experiences the first time a few weeks ago!
*Hate is a rather strong word, they have actually been quite charitable and have not even mentioned our late night vacumming activities! That and we live on the first floor! **This is from my summer experiences but if you had noticed I did not do a lot of posting during the summer. ***I also have another room mate now (Christa) who is also amazing. Really it is just really not fair that I am so blessed with the room mates I have had. ****Originally this post was supposed to be posted at the beginning of August, but because of lack of internet it didn't occur till now.
This weekend I went out and spent more money than I have ever done on shoes. No it was not for a fashion statement, though I must say they are pretty stylish. This was an investment in the well-being of my body. I am training for a Triathlon and with that comes running. So I finally decided to dive in and buy some shoes that would give me the proper support. WOW, they are AMAZING (in a sing-song voice)!! After working out in them through my 4 workout classes at school my arches did not hurt at all. They have been hurting me constantly and now it is like I am walking and running in clouds. They literally give my feet hugs every time I put them on. Worth the price, oh YES!!
So with my Triathlon training I have done a little spending because I know if I spend money on it I will stick with it, because I am not about to shell out money and not use it. And I have amazing friends giving me support that gets me to the gym at the end of the day around 9pm when all I want to do is crawl into bed after my long day. But it is good and fun!
So a few posts ago I posted a video that I find hilarious, Taylor the Latte Boy and then the rebuttal. Well, I decided I wanted to make up another version of the song. So here it is all in good fun!
During tough times in life it is hard to remember the things that we are grateful for, or what to have hope in. Recently I have been feeling stressed and really just having a hard time. Nothing major, just a lot going on. All very important things that need to happen, but are not always easy. This video has a wonderful message that gives me hope. The message of Christ is what gives me strength to endure the hard times.
I also came across this quote that I wanted to share.
President Boyd K. Packer said, " There are three parts to the plan. You are in the second or the middle part, the one in which you will be tested by temptation, by trials, perhaps by tragedy... "Remember this! The line 'And they all lived happily ever after' is never written into the second act [of a play]. That line belongs in the third act, when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right... "Until you have a broad perspective of the eternal nature of [the plan], you won't make much sense out of the inequities in life. Some are born with so little and others with so much. Some are born in poverty, with handicaps, with pain, with suffering. Some experience premature death, even innocent children. There are the brutal, unforgiving forces of nature and the brutality of man to man. We have seen a lot of that recently. "Do not suppose that God willfully causes that which, for His own purposes, he permits. When you know the plan and the purpose of it all, even these things will manifest a loving Father in Heaven." (The Play and the Plan, 7 May 1995)
Life is tough and some terrible things can happen in our lives. But I know that through tragedy, hardships, lonliness, we can know that we are not really alone. That we have a loving Heavenly Father who will weep with us. We have a Savior who has felt our pain and therefore knows how to comfort us. In my darkest moments when I have turned to my Savior I have been filled with his light. I have had some special experiences in those moments when I have come to know that he truly does live and that he truly does love me and that I am not alone.
10 Nice abs on the runner guys (Don't Judge) ;) 9 Riding by all the people with their dogs (did you know there is a dog park?) 8 Cold water provided 7 Being among so many active people 6 The guy playing his harmonica and guitar every Saturday morning on the same turn 5 Riding on the trail amongst all the green trees. 4 The beautiful scenery of the lake 3 Fathers riding their bikes with their kids along with them 2 Mothers running with their kids in strollers (that will be me someday) 1 Riding with Elizabeth
A little while ago, my previous room mate, Elizabeth, introduced me to a song, that well, I love! I find it hilarious! I shared it with my sister and she enjoyed it as well. I googled the song and found it on Youtube and then was pleasantly surprised to find a song in response to the first. Here they are. Enjoy
I know that Christ lives! Everything I have in my life I owe to him. On a daily basis I have the opportunity to come closer to him and come to know him even greater. I have peace and happiness in my life because of him. I know that relationships I have with friends and family members can continue beyond this life because of my Saviors sacrifice. I know all those who have lost their lives in their youth or in their old age will live again, because there was a man. A man who was perfect, who was better than any man who has ever lived. He was good and yet when the moment came for the people to choose between Christ and Barabbas, they chose Barabbas. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of the Lord, put it this way, "It is one of the ironies of history that sitting with Jesus in prison was a real blasphemer, a murderer and revolutionary known as Barabbas, a name or title in Aramaic meaning 'son of the father.' Free to release one prisoner in the spirit of the Passover tradition, Pilate asked the people, 'Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?' They said, 'Barabbas.' So one godless 'son of the father' was set free while a truly divine Son of His Heavenly Father moved on to crucifixion." Our Father in Heaven watched as his perfect son was suffering and even cried out that he might not drink the bitter dregs of the cup. It was the Father's will that Christ chose to obey. He died on the cross for us, and he was resurrected for us, that we too might live again with our Father in Heaven. That we might have a way for happiness in our lives now and forever. Our lives do not end at death. A good man who loses his life for reasons that are not readily understood is not lost. Our loving Heavenly Father has provided a way for us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Through a perfect man that gave his life so that we might have one and then live again.
Bakerella which has some fun recipes on it. With Easter coming up I decided I wanted to make the Easter egg basket cupcakes. Mostly because I thought it would be a fun activity to do. My younger sisters and brother joined me, and of course we had a blast with candy, frosting, and well let's just say there was tons of sugar!!! :S
